The Grenada gazette., 1887-09-24
PETTY svpERsTlTIoMs.


xill the world have done with it's
superstitionsp Why should people
cling to strange beliefs in evil in-
fuences, beliefs which, for the most
mart had their rise in delusions Of
heathenism, centuries after the Chris
tian religion has had full sway in the
civilised world? We know that many
strange and bloody superstidons have
faded away in the past two centuries
Witches are no longer put to death.
and incantations are no longer prae-
ticed in civilized countries; but a thou
sand petty beliefs in lucky and unlncky
things survive these darker superse'
tions, and these, though they are
proved false every day, continue to in
| fuence the minds of people Of no little
intelligence.
In some parts of the country the
receipts of the railroads are mailer on
Fridays than on other week days, be-
cause so many people fear some harm
if they start on journey on that day.
Very many people, who would be
ashamed to confess that they are influ-
enced by this notion. hide it under
some pretense. and perhaps convince
themselves that they are guided BY
some other reason. in refraining from
travelling on Friday, than their super
stition; but the proof is plain that the
influence of the day is feared.
A great many people have fear OF
certain numbers, and belief IN lucEi-
, ness of other numbers. If they stopped
TO think about ii, they would be
ashamed to be Influenced by SO unrea-
sonable a feeling. They do not how
ever, stop to think. Superstition IS
simply form of letting very ignorant
people, who lived long before us do
our thinking for us.
Many men who are incredulous
about most things. have little tricks to
bring about good fortune, such as
turning q chair around before they sit
down. carrying coins with holes in
them. keeping certain coin pocket
piece TO bring good fortune, or
horse chestnut to keep of the rheu-
matism." Inasmuch as rheumatism is
a disease Of the blood, it is impossible
to understand how nut carried IN
pocket could "keepit of. "
The distinguished archeologist, DE-.
Henry Schliemann, is said by his
friends to possess many superstitions,
one of which leads him to be very care
full always to put his left stocking and
shoe on before the right, to put his LEFT
| leg first into his trousers, and his LETT
arm first into his coat-sleeve. His prae-
tice is the opposite Of that Of great
many people. who believe it is '1uck-
iest' to put on the right stocking and
| shoe first. People who are supersti-
tous would find much trouble, proba-
bly,, to make their own superss1G ons
agree with other peoples.
One superstition which influences
many is the fear Of changing or turn
ing stocking which has been put on
| wrong side out II the stocking has
once been put on that way. it must be
left or else it will make the day un-
lucky. If the stocking possessed M
telligencs and power enough to bring
the people bad luck under any cirenni.
stances, it should do so when it is not
turned. in indignation at bdng hfs
wrong side out!
One Of the most extraordinary indi-
! yidual superstitions of the present
time is that Of an Italian Marchioness
who carries about with her 3 bottle IN
which is imprisoned an insect Of the
sort called . ''multiped'-e wood.
worm with many feet This lady,
who is not considered insane by those
who know her. never does any thing
involving risk without taking out this
bottle and holding it in her hand
This is simply the fetic hism Of tAs
African negroes, and nothing 6 more or
less
Among the French it is coAside dered
rather dangerous to talk Of railroad
accidents while on the trains. for fear
that the talk will bring on another az
| liuVho Al AAAO Su PoA So'eAoh " "tsS AouNN
ed on a reason, it must be becnsHe the
locomotives and cars do not like 70
hear their misdeeds and mistakes
spoken Of
A custom which prevails in Europe
is the covering Of all pictures and
mirrors with cloths while burial i
taking place from the house.
The hundred small superstitions.
such as fear Of evil consequences from
the spilling Of salt, from the Heakins
Of a looking-ylass, from the bowling
Of dogs At night and many more such
uiding circumstances, are passing
Away. no doubt but they stiN have a
strange power over many people who
do not behsvs in them. but who are
thoushtlessly Influenced by them
through sort Of habit. Such habit
may be destroyed by little serious
thought when one 10 tempted to yield 70